Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Intelligent design vs. Evolution

You would have imagined that the place for Intelligent design would be in a schools Religous Education curriculum. Oh well some of the rather stupidly religious and blank minded members of Dover Area School in Pennsylvania, USA changed the rules and made it compulsory for the students to be taught about ID before being taught about Evolution (in a Biology class).

A few days back I even read about Vatican saying that ID had its place in christian explaination of the world and that it should not be taken as a science. I agree there are lot of religions and how far would the board go... accomodate a chapter for each religions version of ID !!! oh well thats a thought... but there's no place for it in Biology class...
In the latest battle, a federal judge said Tuesday that 'Intelligent design is a religious alternative masquerading as a scientific theory and cannot be mentioned in biology classes in a Pennsylvania public school district'

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Oracle coming out with Express edition

A few weeks back I read in VSJ magazine that Oracle was coming out with Oracle Developer Tools for Oracle 10g database which would sort of enable use of .net framework in Oracle.

I logged into OTN and I had a sniff around. Over the last few years MSDE which is the stripped down SQL Desktop Engine has gained a lot of support and market because even though it's limited functionality, it still can do lot of shit. The new version of SQL Server is also coming out with new MSDE christined SQL Server 2005 Express Edition. What I saw on OTN surprised me. Oracle wants a piece of it too.

The release 2 supports .net framework 1.0 and above and you can write stored procedures and probably functions using .net. It creates PL/SQL wrappers for the .net code and when called it loads CLR as a seperate process and uses LPC to communicate with CLR. That would sort of do the job but maybe take a little longer. The fact that thats all you can do with .net is the limiting factor.

Even IBM who I consider proponents of Java support .net framework 1.1 in there DB2 UDB 8.2 or something like that. They like Oracle allow only Stored Proc and UDFs using .net languages. The CLR is again hosted in a seperate process.

I think SQL 2005 has the most extensive implementation out there supporting, Stored Procs, UDFs, UDTs, Triggers etc.

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Free e-learning courses from microsoft

I came across these when I was browsing sql developer center yesterday. There are some great e-learning courses for free for the next 6 months on microsoft learning.

For SQL 2005 click here

For Visual studio 2005 & .net 2.0 click here

Currently I am going through SQL 2005 course. It's alright so far. Give it a go.
Good luck coding.

Monday, October 03, 2005

BrowserCaps and other Browser Testing/Detection Resources

BrowserCaps for ASP.NET machine.config / web.config

Over the last few weeks I have been looking around the net, to find someway, to modify the useragent of IE 7 beta. It would just crash on asp.net application sighting a error converting 7.0b of the user-agent.
Finally today's search lead me to the above site which looks promising.. I will modify the web.config and add new browsers to browscap section.. hopefully it will work.

Friday, September 23, 2005

iPod Nano

I was just reading how easily they get scratched on The Register. I have seen earlier iPods look absolutely horrendous (due to scratching)... Looks like the 4th Gen Nano's just about the same.

Anyways... I agree apple's fantastic when it comes to design.... Though they are crap when it comes to making it. Oh well the fanboys... Or rather the geeks who just like to show that they are so bloody hip deserve to get slapped... not by be but by the company itself... Hold on.. they already are...

I think everybody should do something... Buy the Nano's and keep them with the rest of the trophies.... Maybe one day sell it off to antics... Oh shit... It just got scratched on the way to the blimey shop...

Rich Dad, Poor Dad

I am just on verge of finishing this book Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki. It's a great book. To the point and very right...
I have always been a believer of 'Show me the Money' (from Jerry Maguire) and I have a plan formulating in my brain. I am broke (as he says broke is temporary)... got married last month didn't I %>) but I will keep the advice in mind.

I have also decided to pursue a marketing course at some point. We shall see how that goes.

I have also decided that I am done investing in gadgets. I think it's time for real assets rather than stupid computers and bikes and pocket pcs and shite. Only time will tell.

Monday, September 19, 2005

The Road Not Taken - Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

------------------------------------------

I was going through a book called Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki and i came across The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost. I think I remember it from my school days but it was nice to read it again. It's more inspiring now then it was back then.

Friday, September 16, 2005

The Apple Product Cycle

I have been following the The Apple Product Cycle for a while and this description just hit the nail... it's so funny and to the point... I bet the poor bastard who wrote this, has been getting hate mail all day long ever since he wrote this.

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Adding Custom Search using IE 7 beta

Its like somebody read my mind... a few days back i was whining about not being able to search Google.co.uk... i like search Pages with UK and about not being able to add other Search providers... I just noticed on IE blog they have given a registry script by which you can add custom search options.
They have shown using msdn search as a part of IE... that is top thinking...
i am going to add that and Google UK search.
Here is post from IE Team

And here is my version of script based on their post.

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\MSDN]
"DisplayName"="MSDN Library"
"URL"="http://search.microsoft.com/search/results.aspx?qu=%s&View=msdn"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\Google.co.uk]
"DisplayName"="Google UK"
"URL"="http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&ie=utf8&oe=utf8&q=%s"

Absolutely fantastic

Monday, August 01, 2005

First Look at Internet Explorer 7 Beta 1


After a bit of messing around... I downloaded IE 7... there was a surprise to start with it was only about 10 megs for a change... though I haven't worried about file sizes for a long long time.



Once downloaded, I created a System Restore point as I have in past, installed Alpha / Beta software and managed to completely shaft my systems... :) so I wasn't in a mood to reinstall all the shit all over again...

Installation of IE 7 beta was pretty fast... It first needed a genuine windows authentication check ... Oh well it's PC at work.. too bad if it's not licensed... here we go... no nasty surprises... it all went smoothly and IE got to backing up the files and installing itself.... after about 2 minutes I was prompted to finish and reboot the box...
It took a minute to set up personalised shortcuts etc and it was show time...

The main window is slightly modified... I am still getting used to the Menu options being a part of each tab rather than being at the top most level.
There's a search tab on the top right... and it provides the user with a simple way to query the few search engines





There's been a big fuss about toolbars from Yahoo and Google etc not working. As you can see they are working just fine... Don't know what the fuss is all about... Though I have to admit, I pretty much update my software now and again.. it's possible that the people who have had problems probably had old versions...



To open a new tab you click the empty square right most tab. if you are browsing the web and would like to open the link in a tab its pretty hand... right click and just select Open in New Tab



Closing in slightly inconvenient... you have to right click the tab and click Close. Or you can click the X at the right hand side of the Tab Control.

Off late there's been a lot of phishing scams and browsers have been come under fire for not having anti phishing checks etc. IE beta incorporates a Anti Phishing Filter. M$ maintains a black list of sorts and has the option for user submission.





As far as stability is concerned I think it's been okay so far... Though on a colleagues computer its been crashing every now and again... Keep your fingers crossed.

IE 7 is also RSS aware as you might already know... If a page contains RSS the icon lights up (changes to orange) and you can have a look at the RSS feed.



I will update the post when I have more to comment on it. Have fun

Saturday, July 23, 2005

Ebuyer Hard Drive Hard Plastic IDE Caddy With 2 Fan + Lock

Ebuyer Hard Drive Hard Plastic IDE Caddy With 2 Fan + Lock

I would rate this as one of my best ever purchases. I am sick and tired of my machines going down and when they do... i have to go through the nightmare of swapping hard drives to get the data.. This has just made my life so bloody easy.

All i have to do is switch the pc off and pull the caddy out and shove it in the second pc... and off it goes... i have access to my files... couldn't be easier (well it can... but i would need hot swap functionality)... for 3 and half quid..... i can live without it for now.... 5 star ratings from me

Friday, July 15, 2005

The Code Project - Smart Alarm using OpenNetCF and C# for SmartPhone (Windows Mobile 2003) - .NET Compact Framework

The Code Project - Smart Alarm using OpenNetCF and C# for SmartPhone (Windows Mobile 2003) - .NET Compact Framework.

The folks are code project just moved my arcticles from un-edited user submissions to .net >> .net CF >> Applications section after editing it.

In 3 days and 960+ hits i think it its not too bad (though it could just be the title). Would love for more feedback though i only had one comment (OpenNetCF not OpenCFNet) and one rating 4 of 5.... C'mon people...

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Invoke IT Limited

I just registered my first company using @UK PLC. I first looked up Invoke and Construct and Initialise etc but not much left. So thought what about Invoke IT Limited (IT or It)... after all the first business is going to be in computers..... having thought of that i checked it up and it was available.. so far thinking about it for a day i finally registered the Company Name and i also managed to book the uk domain name invokeit.co.uk

Keep your fingers crossed

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

The Code Project - Smart Alarm using OpenCFNet and C# for Smartphone (Windows Mobile 2003) - .NET Compact Framework

My second article on The CodeProject The Code Project - Smart Alarm using OpenNetCF and C# for Smartphone (Windows Mobile 2003) - .NET Compact Framework

Smartphone Screen Capture !!!!

I just finished my first Smartphone Application... guess what i wrote... well i wrote a smart alarm application, that allows me to create multiple alarms.
Anyways i wanted to post the code on CodeProject and needed screen shots... look up the next and Mikehall's Embedded WebLog : Smartphone Screen Capture ? contained a link to SmartSS. Downloaded it and installed the cab file in the phone and started the app. Taking screen shots couldn't be simpler. Once app is running in background and you want to capture the screen press * key and it captures the screen and copies the bmp in /Storage/My Documents folder

Friday, July 01, 2005

Almost a Brit now!!! lol

Yesterday i officially became a permanent resident in the UK. Immediate
advantages:


  • i can get married without requiring permission to get married from
    homeoffice
  • i don't require a work permit any more
  • i can start my own business

I am very glad that it happened as it not happening would have almost ruined
my plans of getting married in 2 months time. For 3 hours in all and about 500
quid, glad its over.

Thursday, June 02, 2005

WHOIS Database query using C# winforms applications

Recently i was trying to trace ip address of web clients to valid some query requested from me. I came to a scenario where i had a bunch of ips and times but whether the ips belonged to the same isp or not.

so i started looking up the net for some webservices (well from work everything other than port 80 is blocked) and i found some... they either charged money or where not returning any useful information.

so finally after looking around for an hour or two i set to write it myself. looked up some website that did whois query.... saw one which took a querystring parameter of ip address as string.

anyways it did work.. i did not modify it to work with private ip address. the data passed for private ip address ranges ie 10.x.x.x and 192.x.x.x range etc are different and the code can be modified.. help yourself i you need to do something like that. Here's the code.





if(this.txtIPAddress.Text != null && this.txtIPAddress.Text != "")
{
this.btnLookup.Enabled = false;

string LookupURL = "http://www.dnsstuff.com/tools/whois.ch?ip=";

NetworkCredential nc = new NetworkCredential("uname", "pass", "domain");


WebProxy wp = new WebProxy("http://networkproxyserver:80");
wp.Credentials = nc;

HttpWebRequest hwr = (HttpWebRequest)WebRequest.Create(LookupURL + txtIPAddress.Text);
hwr.Proxy = wp;

hwr.Credentials = nc;

try
{
HttpWebResponse response = (HttpWebResponse)hwr.GetResponse();

StreamReader sr = new StreamReader(response.GetResponseStream());

string respData = sr.ReadToEnd();

int startPos = respData.IndexOf("netname:");
int endPos = respData.IndexOf("country:");

string filteredData = respData.Substring(startPos, endPos - startPos);

string[] inforeceived = filteredData.Split('\n');

string netname = inforeceived[0];

string desc = inforeceived[1];

startPos = respData.IndexOf("[");
endPos = respData.IndexOf("]");

string location = respData.Substring(startPos, endPos - startPos).Replace("[","").Replace("]","");

lblLocation.Text = location;
lblNetworkName.Text = netname;
lblDesc.Text = desc;

}
catch(WebException we)
{
MessageBox.Show(we.Message);
}

this.btnLookup.Enabled = true;
}

Friday, May 13, 2005

Need a brothel? Ask Google

Need a brothel? Ask Google or How about George Bush inspired version of World Map by Google Maps

Open up Google Maps UK
Lets say i want to look at something in Europe. Zoom out a bit and click the -> to move right. Hold on its a bit blank.
Keep clicking and suddenly you notice Alaska looming. What the heck.. Where did the rest of the world dissappear. I think Google's taken George Bush's idea of it.

It that wasn't bad enough. While you are on Google Maps. Click on Local Search. Type in Brothel in E1... lol surprise surprise. Oh well... all in a day's work.

Thursday, May 12, 2005

Surprise Surprise

I have been very lazy off late. Hardly get time to put down a blog. Anyways time for some good news. I am getting married in a few months time :)

Friday, March 18, 2005

Visual SourceSafe VSS 6 - Reset Lost Admin Password

Microsoft: Visual SourceSafe - Loss Admin password

I have used this techinique a number of times. Use your fav hex editor... i prefer ultraedit and open up the um.dat in /data dir. Reset the bytes from offset 80

0:80 55 55 bc 7f 41 64 6d 69 6e 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0:90 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
0:a0 00 00 00 00 90 6e 00 00 a8 01 00 00 00 00 00 00

This information is at YOUR OWN RISK

Save the file and close the editor. Open sourcesafe admin and open the database. VSS admin will behave as if the admin password was never set.

Friday, February 18, 2005

TalkTalk broadband sucks

I consider myself a power user who doesnt necessarily take backups too often.. i just download stuff over and over again :) there's limit to the hard drive space and the cds and dvds you can burn and have lying around...

i used Pipex for over 2 and half years and i moved from pipex to talktalk purely because it was cheaper.. it was offering me 512 k for about 19.99 and 1 meg for 25 quid provided i had talktalk phone billing.... well i moved on to them for a 1 meg account...

surprise surprise... within two months they write to me saying that my usage is causing network load / usability issues... and that they are disconnecting me from the 15th of march... the worst part is that i download hell lot less than what i used to download before....

Carphonewarehouse and their TalkTalk ISP sucks... they don't offer unlimited downloads as claimed in their advert....... I have decided to download a complete set of iso's worth gigs from msdn just to give them more grief..... it was nice doing business with you guys...

Friday, February 11, 2005

Thursday, January 13, 2005

Still alive and kicking

Ahoy people... hope life's treating you all good... yes i am finally recovering from excessive social indulgence on my part. yes yes i know once a geek always a geek.. but i am turning into a better geek...
got a girlie and a great social life... even work doesnt seem all that bad... hahaha... had a great time this christmas... was in poland stuffing all the delicious cakes... was back in the country for new years and well its been a great start to the new year...
it can only get better... keep your fingers crossed for me....
ciao ciao